Page 92 of Give Me Love

She stares at me.

“Did you miss me?” I ask, needing some kind of reassurance here.

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip and she looks down. I swallow, trying to figure out how to save whatever this is.

“Maybe,” she says, looking back up.

I can’t help the lift in my lip.

“But what does that matter?” She turns toward the box and removes coffee filters and bags. “You left me. I don’t think I can handle this friendship anymore.”

“I think we should stop with this friend bullshit,” I say unexpectedly. I had no intention of saying that either, but it’s done now.

She stops emptying the box and looks back at me. I slide my hands into the pockets of my jeans.

“So, you meant what you said last week about not wanting to be friends anymore?” She twirls the ring on her finger.

“Yes,” I reply.

Her expression turns from tentative to pissed off. “Then why did you leave?”

I look down, unsure of what to say.

You terrify me.

You make me weak.

You could change everything for me.

I’m not sure if this would work.

I like you too much already.

I want to spend every second with you.

I want to tell you all my secrets.

“Bryce.” She grabs my attention. “I didn’t go with you to Monnie’s diner that night to start up anything. I knew then exactly what I wanted. Just to be friends. I’d just come out of a shitty relationship, and I had no intention on getting into another one. I still don’t, if it’s going to be shitty. But I like you. I enjoy your company and…” She blushes. “I really liked that kiss.” She sighs and bites the inside of her cheek before she says, “If you don’t want us to take things any farther, I understand. I have a lot going on here. I don’t need any more complications.” The girl who’s changing everything for me stares, waiting for me to reply, but my mind is stumbling, and I have no idea what to say.

She lifts her brow. “Okay then,” she says before reaching behind her and lifting the box. She goes to walk around the counter.

“Wait.”

She stops and turns her head.

My heart trampolines, almost jumping from my chest entirely. The man who always holds up his guard and remembers why falling for someone is a mistake and can break you leaves the room. I can’t say I’m not happy about this. He’s fucking this up.

I let Lou’s words run through my mind.“You need someone to share your life with…to tell your secrets to.”

I remove my hands from my pockets and step closer to her. Her eyes bounce between mine. I think about my past and how I’ve never been one to share my emotions, always keeping them to myself to take out on the punching bag later or having a few drinks of bourbon to get the edge off. That was then. This is now. I’m ready to be a different man. I’m ready to try.

“This isn’t going to be easy. I’m going to screw up…a lot.” I reach for the hand not holding the box. She looks down as I link our fingers. “I’m not always going to be a breeze to deal with, Kat. I’ve… It’s…”

She tilts her head slightly. “This is really hard for you, huh?”

Fuck yeah, this is hard for me. I’ve never done this before, and I’ve seen what loving someone too much can do to a person. I’ve always thought I’d be better off alone. Keeping my family at arm’s length and women even farther, that’s all I’ve ever known.

I exhale, and her gray eyes make me feel like this might be okay.

---